Martin O'Neill has dismissed any safety concerns for Celtic's return to Ibrox Stadium. The manager spoke after Police visited the club's Lennoxtown training ground on Friday ahead of next week's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final.
O'Neill said he does not expect issues, particularly with no away supporters permitted for the tie. "No, I don't," O'Neill said. "I think since we've got no fans going to the game at all, there'll be nothing for people to remonstrate about."
Police visit Lennoxtown
The Police visit came as a precautionary reminder ahead of the first trip to Govan since March's Scottish Cup match, which was followed by significant post-match disorder. O'Neill described the engagement as constructive. "I think it was a good thing for them to come today and just give us a reminder," he said. "Not to have any sort of intimidation, not to cause our own problems."
The club has been allocated just 300 tickets for the match, with the decision made to have no away support in the stadium. O'Neill stated his primary wish is for a repeat of last season's cup victory at the venue, but without the subsequent chaos.
Squad news ahead of busy run
On the pitch, O'Neill confirmed key defender Kasper Hogh is available for selection after the international break. Fellow defender Kieran Tierney is also fit, while midfielder Mika Baur is expected to recover from a minor knock sustained in the recent win over St Johnstone.
That 1-0 victory, secured by a Baur goal in the 52nd minute, kept Celtic five points clear at the top of the Premiership. The team has a perfect 18 points from six league games this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding only three.
O'Neill faces selection dilemmas in attack, with winger Yang Hyun-jun away on international duty at the Asian Games. Options include Camilo Duran, who can operate on either flank, and Seb Tounekti, who impressed in the win over St Johnstone. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone also earned praise for his debut performance in that match.
The manager emphasised the importance of handling a congested schedule successfully. Celtic have three matches in three different competitions over the next seven days. "We want to go unbeaten in this period," O'Neill said. The team's recent form shows four consecutive wins in all competitions following a heavy defeat to Lask Linz in late August.
Looking ahead
With key players returning, O'Neill highlighted Hogh's importance for the challenges ahead. The next fixture after the cup tie is a league trip to face Dundee United, who currently sit ninth, on December 30th. Before that, the focus is squarely on the cup and a professional performance at Ibrox.
The club will be without Alistair Johnston, Callum Osmand, and Jota due to injury, but the returning contingent strengthens O'Neill's hand. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the latest squad information here.
